2010 RIOJA GRAN RESERVA 904

La Rioja Alta barrels.jpg

We can now offer one of the finest values in Rioja from the outstanding 2010 vintage.

"It has to be among the greatest modern time vintages of this mythical bottling, where they aim for a wine that has a long aging potential... This has to be one of the greatest wines from the vintage. A legend in the making.
Wine Advocate, Luis Gutierrez

 

Officially rated "Excellent" by the Rioja DOC, 2010 is considered one of the best of the century by La Rioja Alta and the beautifully balanced Gran Reserva 904 "shows just how special the 2010 vintage was" (97 Tim Atkin).  The 2010 vintage of the prestigious 904 is yet to be rated by the Wine Advocate but we expect it to score highly as recent editions have all scored at least 95 points.
 
Ideal growing conditions in 2010 helped produce wines of great balance, complexity and freshness - ideal for the long barrel-ageing undergone by top Riojas.  Beautifully complex with dark fruits developing into spiced and savoury notes, the 2010 Gran Reserva 904 is already polished and moreish but will continue to develop in bottle for many years to come. 
 
Only released when the winery considers it ready to drink, this is a fantastic opportunity to buy a perfectly stored, ready to drink wine of real complexity, without either having to wait or pay a fortune for the privilege.  It will disappear from the market and offers exceptional quality and value.


We can also offer La Rioja Alta's recently released 2012 Vina Arana Gran Reserva which has just been rated 97 points by Decanter and awarded a platinum medal.


"I have admired their wines for many years, Rioja that speaks so eloquently and with such clarity of their place ... Quite simply, these are some of the finest Riojas that can grace your cellar: complex, refined, classic but without compromising fruit intensity and to reiterate: wines that speak about where they come from."
Neal Martin on La Rioja Alta

 


2010 GRAN RESERVA 904, LA RIOJA ALTA
£195 per 6x75cl IB
 
“It has to be among the greatest modern time vintages of this mythical bottling, where they aim for a wine that has a long aging potential. This is mostly Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and 13.5% alcohol, and it matured in fourth-used American oak barrels for four years, during which time the wine was racked every six months. It has the combination of elegance and power only the best vintages are capable of, with the classical aromas, great detail and nuance, very good balance and persistence. They consider 2010 among the best years of this century, and maybe future generations will talk about 2010 like we talk about the great classical vintages of yesterday today. The palate is polished but shows plenty of energy and tension, the tannins are very fine and elegant, and the flavors are focused and clean. This has to be one of the greatest wines from the vintage. A legend in the making."
96+pts Wine Advocate, Luis Gutierrez

A step up on the memorable 2009, this shows just how special the 2010 vintage was. Marrying fruit from Briñas, Villalba and Rodezno, it's a perfectly judged marriage of Tempranillo with 10% Graciano. Savoury wild herb notes segue into a palate that's focused, balanced and graceful with the concentration and backbone to age. 2019-35"
97pts Tim Atkin
 
Medium-high depth, cherry–red with a garnet rim. Very intense in aromas. Complex, with notes of plums and ripe grapes, jam of blackberries and red raspberries that give way to spicy and balsamic notes of tobacco leaves, cedar, liquorice, vanilla, chocolate and ground coffee. Good entry. Fresh and balanced in the mouth, with polished, silky tannins and a gentle, delicate finish. Very long aftertaste, with balsamic notes of coffee and toasted caramel, candied fruits and liquorice dominating these pleasant sensations."
Julio Saenz, Winemaker


2012 VINA ARANA GRAN RESERVA 904, LA RIOJA ALTA
£162 per 6x75cl IB
 
Classic nose with savoury character over a sweet spices background with elegant cigar box notes. Quite mouth watering with a full body and chewy mid-palate."
97pts Decanter

The release of this Viña Arana Gran Reserva is a historic moment for us and… we have chosen a very dear brand for our winery. For this new wine we used a traditional blending with Gran Reserva ‘vocation’: the Tempranillo provides structure and elegance and Graciano gives greater aromatic intensity and acidity… I think it’s the perfect complement for ageing!! It’s really a fresh and elegant wine with structure and high aromatic intensity. Easy to pair and great to enjoy. It’s a new step in our recognition for a successful category of wines that has made Rioja great and famous."
Julio Saenz, Winemaker


 

Contact us to enquire or register your interest.